Oct 13, 2012 9:35 AM

Mike - Had a 5K this morning, was hoping to break the 23:00 minute barrier. Morning was crisp and cool around 8:00AM this morning. Wife and son were signed up for the 1/2, but son had some heal issues and decided to step down to the 5K. He decided that sitting in the son was better then waiting in the shade for the race to start. We realized that it was too crowded to start at the head of the pack and decided to wait for things to clear out before we started (with chip timing it won't make much difference unless the course is congested). We let everyone go and waited until everyone had made that first turn and were going to wait a little longer when we saw a crowd of little kids getting ready to walk, so we bolted. I had a lot of pent up energy, so started a bit quickly and it took a 1/4 mile or so for me to slow down into a good pace. The course was an out and back that had a bunch of twists and turns, but starts and finishes with a 1/2 to 3/4 mile straight (well after a 50-100yard 90 degree turn). Son stayed with me until we saw the leaders coming back, I didn't see him again even tho I was looking (guess not well enough). I hit the turn around at ~11:00 minutes and all I could think was 12 minutes for 1.5 miles should be doable. The only slope is an overpass over the highway 1/4 mile before and after the turn around. Tried to push it going up and coming down. Did the twists and turns before the straight away and was trying to maintain my pace. Most of the race we'd been passing people and was trying to focus on the next person in front of me to catch, but one guy mid-20's caught me and continued on. Was picking off little kids and as we neard the finish was trying to catch 2 younger boys, but when they saw the finish they kicked it in pretty good. I tried to kick, but I lost a bit of ground. As I crossed the finish stopping the watch I thought it said 23:14 and was a bit disappointed. Son came up to me and I asked him his time and he said around 21:00 and then I said I finished just over 23 and he said no. Looked at the watch again and realized it said 22:14! New PR, I'm pleased.

Thanks, guys, for your interest in my annual fitness test. My goal today was to run 14:49 or better to get the max score of 100 points for my age group. Conditions were not great: first we had to do all the pushups we could, then we had to do all the situps we could, then we had to stretch out in the frosty grass--temp was about 30 at the start of the fitness test.

Right before the run, I tried to warm up by jogging a lap. My legs felt like sticks of wood--I couldn't even finish the one-lap warmup! I thought, "This is not good," but decided to ignore it and hope for the best.

Then the 2-mile run started and it was a huge mob scene. There were over 100 people running on the track at the same time! On the plus side, the presence of so many people--some of them fast--gave me more energy.

After three slow miserable laps with my elapsed time barely under 6:00 and slipping, I wondered, "Am I even going to break 16:00?"

Then I willed myself to run faster out of shame, and maybe my stiff legs were loosening up. I think I ran faster and faster just about every lap after that, and finished in 14:26 which was a max score by 23 seconds.

Not a great time for me, historically speaking, but at least I met my goal for the day. I'll take it, and move on!

Rich, I'm sure you'll make the right decision based on how the foot is feeling.

It was indeed my first 5K under 23 minutes (2nd running career). Over the last 2+ years I've run somewhere around 10 5Ks and best previous before starting a real training program was 23:30 at Oakland in 2011. Last one at the end of August was 23:16, but there was wind coming off the bay. The one today was w/o wind and I think it helpd having my son running with me for the first half of the race. Official time was 22:14, garmin got my mile times in 7:05, 7:10 and 7:15 with the last 10th in 43. Finished 5th in the 50-59 age group and 25th overall. Son finished in about 20:22 also 5th in his AG and 11th overall. Wife wasn't happy with her 1/2 marathon, but still finished 2nd in her age group.

Wow, what a day for running, with a 5k PR and age group top honors in a fitness test. Way to go Ray and DH!

I had a good day also, having run 8 miles and felt really good. Ran the last mile at 9:50, and had a low HR most of the run and could have picked up the pace. My legs feel great even now. Maybe there is a little speed improvement left to be had, even if my goal is mainly to enjoy running and not obsess about times.

Sounds like taking it easy or easier is not a bad plan, Rich. Avoiding serious injury giving up one race is not a bad bargain, if you have doubts going into it. I have to admit that my judgement in this area is sometimes suspect, but I am getting better at taking a day or a few if the body is trying to tell me something.

My daughter is back in town, having picked her up at the bus stop earlier this evening. It is pretty incredible the change I already see in her, like making that transition from kid to adult before my very eyes. Part of my motivation for running is to keep up with the "rug rats."

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